Congratulations to Jake Freestone from Overbury Estate, Tewkesbury, who has been announced as the South West Farmer’s Farm Manager of the Year.

The award is well deserved: Jake, who partners with Agri-EPI as a Satellite Farmer, has recently participated in an exciting Agri-EPI-led trial of high-tech crop scanning equipment which can measure precisely a grain crop’s protein, moisture and oil content as it is being harvested. Jake used it to measure the protein content of milling wheat, allowing him to segregate or blend batches of grain to the desired protein levels, thereby maximising its market value. It is in recognition of his work that Jake has received the South West Farmer award.

Jake was named the winner at a ceremony in Taunton, Somerset, yesterday evening.

Runner-up was Duncan Forbes, Agri-EPI Centre Head of Dairy Development.

Duncan has worked in the dairy industry for around 40 years and has always been focused on moving with the times in response to the changes and challenges facing the industry. Duncan has spent much of his career with Kingshay agricultural consultants in Somerset but, since summer 2018, has also taken on the role of managing Agri-EPI’s South West Dairy Development Centre.

The awards panel praised both Jake and Duncan for their abilities to plan, evaluate and adjust strategies to deliver profitable and sustainable farm businesses, to manage risk and to develop new ways to deal with traditional farming issues.

Stay informed

Keep up to date with the latest impact and results of our work, plus, news, innovation and approaches across the sector. Read our latest news and Agri-EPI blogs.